The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-07-08
INDEPENDENCE DAY.


The Fourth of July was observed this year
with an enthusiasm and unanimity that re-
minded one Of the old-fashioned celebrations
of the days before the civil war. In almost
every part of every State in the Union the
fires of patriotism glowed again as the Star
Spangled banner was flung to the breeze,
amid the booming of cannon and the strains
of martial music, while the Declaration of
Independence was read and eloquent orators
rehearsed to multitudes the story of the birth
of freedom
This spontaneous and widespread celebra-
ton of the greatest day in our national his.
tory marks gratifying progress towards
closer bond of union between all sections OF
our common country. The bitter feelings
engendered by the civil war are fast dying
out. Since the sword was sheathed at Apo
mattox and the stars and bars" of the Lost
Cause were furled forever new gepefation
of men and women has grown VI, to whom
the war is only an event in Aszerican history,
and even to those who took part in or suffer
ed by its horrors, it seems more like painful
1t is not strange, therefore, Jhat patriotic
feelings are being rekindled and that in every
quarter Of our country Democrats and Re-
publicane, the Blue and the Gray-ex- Union
Soldiers and Confederates-united in cele-
>brating the anniversary of American Inde-
pendence, which is equally the glorious herr.
tage of all.
Another circumstance which perhaps added
zest to the observance of the day is the fact
that the gloomy forebodings of pretended
patriots of evil that would follow the election
Of Democratic President have not come to
pass. Cleveland has occupied the Presiden-
tlal chair for more than two years and the
whole world has seen and even bitter parti.
sans must acknowledge that there has been
no disturbance of commerce, manufactures or
general business as the result of his election
Our country is peaceful and prosperous and
the general government has never been more
wisely, economically and justly administered.
Our navy is being slowly but surely rebuilt,
as means of protecting our seacoasts from
foreign invasion and enforcing the rights of
American citizens abroad, as well as of guard
ing the little that is left of our once magnifi.
cent merchant marine.
While the passions engendered by the war
are subsiding, 1t has left us the legacy of up-
just and unequal tariff laws, under the opera.
Iions of which the manufacturer is specially
favored and enriched at the expense of the
farming and laboring classes. This is the
shadow upon our Fourth of July sun the
drop of bitterness in our cup of national re.
joicing, Let us hope that before the next
recurrence of the day the burden of tariff
taxes will be more equally adjusted While
Congress can not by legislation raise the
price of wheat, it may, by equally regulated
tariff lave, decrease the cost of its produc.
ton. The farmer and the working man have
a right to demand some consideration for
their interests, which have too long been
overlooked by the law-making power, and
our glorious anniversary will not be cele-
brated as it should be until every class of our
citizens shall bear their share, and no more
than their share of the burden of maintaining
the general government.